Batting

Titans Split Double Header at Easton Desert Classic

Feb 16, 2013

It was a day of two tales for the Titans in the second day of the Easton Desert Classic tournament, the Titans struggled to produce runs in game one of the day versus BYU, but the bats came alive versus Utah in game two. In game one, the Titans only managed four hits and in a loss to BYU 4-3, but in game two Jasmine Antunez, Melissa Sechrest, and Ariel Tsuchiyama blasted home runs to give the Titans an 8-0 win over the Utah Utes.

Jasmine Antunez picked a win and loss over the day, but in game two tossed a complete game one hit shutout against the Utes. The Titans now improve to 3-5 on the season and will play versus the No. 7 ranked Oregon Ducks tommorow at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park at 11:15.

Game 1 Brigham Young 4, Cal State Fullerton 3

The Cougars and Titans traded runs throughout the game, but an eventual game winning RBI single by Ashley Brawley-Robinson in the bottom of the fourth inning propelled the Cougars over the Titans 4-3 at Stephanie Lynn Craig field in Las Vegas, Nev.

BYU struck first in the bottom of the second with their aggressive base running. Carly Duckworth walked to start the inning and after being sacrificed over to second by Alex Shamo-Henson. On a 2-2 pitch from Cal State Fullerton pitcher Jasmine Antunez, Duckworth stole third and scored after the ball tipped off freshman Samantha Galarza's glove while she tried to cover the base. The Titans would also take advantage of a mistake by BYU. Senior Tiffany Sheffler scored after BYU pitcher Tori Almond threw a wild pitch to the backstop in the top of the third.

BYU answered in the bottom half of the inning, started off by singles from Brawley-Robinson and JC Clayton. The Cougars would then score Brawley-Robinson from third from a sacrifice fly from Katie Manua. The Titans wouldn't go away easy as in the top of the fourth freshman Melissa Sechrest blasted her second home run of the season over the center field fence to cut the lead down to one. The Titans would continue their comeback in the fourth after junior Jena Rubio singled to score Antunez from second tying the game up 3-3.

The Titans were haunted by costly mistakes that led to multiple BYU runs. Antunez day was done in the fourth after an RBI single by Brawley-Robinson to give the Cougars a 4-3 lead. Antunez (1-3) tossed 3 1/3 innings giving up four runs off four hits, but only charged with one earned run. Ybarra would throw 2 2/3 innings to finish the game giving up three hits and striking out two.

BYU starter Tori Almond threw three innings giving up two hits and two runs while striking out five. Almond handed the ball off to Hannah Howell (1-3), who recorded her first victory of the season. Howell tossed four innings giving up two hits and one run in relief. The Cougars move to 3-5 on the season and will play Portland State at 6 p.m. at Anderson Family Field.

Game 2 Cal State Fullerton 8, Utah 0

The Titans struck first in the bottom of the second off a bunt single by freshman Jasmine Antunez scoring pinch runner Carissa Turang. The Titans would then extend their lead when Melissa Sechrest blasted her third career home run and second of the day against Utah pitcher Mariah Ramirez. Six batters later redshirt junior Ariel Tsuchiyama crushed a 1-0 pitch over the right center fence for a grandslam, giving the Titans a 6-0 lead. The five run 4th inning, is the second time in two days that the Titans have scored five runs in an inning.

The Titans hot bats then continued in the bottom of the fiftf. After a Sechrestht walk, Jasmine Antunez blasted her first career homerun over the right center fence to end the game due to an eight run-rule after five innings.

Tsuchiyama went 2-for-4 with four RBI's, Sechrest was 2-for-2 with two runs and a RBI, and Antunez finished with three RBI's. Junior Lauren Mario got her first hit of the season in the 4th with a single to right field.

In her seventh start of the start freshman Jasmine Antunez (2-3) went the distance throwing five innings, only giving up one hit in the fourth inning to Trina Gomez. Antunez at one point retired 10 Utah batters in a row and struck out five, recording her first complete game of her career.

Utah starting pitcher Mariah Ramirez (1-3) took the loss throwing 4 1/3 innings giving up eight runs on eight hits. The Utes fall to 2-6 on the season and look to improve on that record tomorrow in the final day of the Easton Desert Classic with games versus Long Beach State and host UNLv.